Thursday at the National Palace, the de facto President Jocelerme Privert met with key national and international actors involved in the agricultural sector. This meeting, to which took part in partucular the ministers Pierre Guytho Laurore (Agriculture), and Yves Bastien Romain (Economy), was intended to present the assessment of damage caused by the passage of Hurricane Matthew on the country, particularly on the south coast and the North-West.

Several representatives of international donors participated in this important meeting, among others, the Ambassador of Switzerland in Haiti, Jean-Luc Virchaux, of the Spanish Agency Coordinator for International Cooperation and Development (AECID), Carmen Rodriguez Aice, Michael Wyzan of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Bruno Jacques of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ambrosio Barros of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Aloys Niziqiyimama of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Massimo Scalorbi, Head of Cooperation of the European Union.

The Head of the State concerned "by the famine threatening the country" following the devastating passage of Hurricane Matthew on the agricultural sector in Haiti, called for "a frank collaboration of all partners to avoid the worst..." While opting for interventions to a medium and long-term recovery, he insisted for immediate responses be given to relieve the population living in rural areas and prevent mass migration to urban centers.

The various speakers at the meeting expressed their willingness to make every effort to support and strengthen the agricultural sector and rural development. According Privert, they are committed to "facilitate access to agricultural inputs, to support fishermen and farmers, so that they can resume their activities as soon as possible."

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre